Moscow airport chief engineer charged over French jet crash

Moscow, Oct 31 (IANS/TASS) The Russian Investigative Committee Friday charged a third person in the criminal case over the crash of a French Falcon jet in which France's energy giant Total CEO Christophe de Margerie died at Moscow airport Vnukovo.

"Today chief engineer of Vnukovo airport service Vladimir Ledenev was charged with violation of jet operation rules that entailed the death of two and more people through negligence. Ledenev was questioned as a defendant. He is currently under arrest," the committee's spokesman Markin said.

The same charge was earlier brought against flight controller Alexander Kruglov and probationary flight controller Svetlana Krivsun. They face up to seven years in prison.

"Investigative measures continue in regard to other defendants in the criminal case including flights chief Roman Dunayev and operator of a snow-plough Vladimir Martynenko. They will also face charges in the near future," Markin said.

The four suspects in the case are chief engineer of the airport's service Vladimir Ledenev, who was in charge of snow-clearing work at the time of the incident, flights director Roman Dunayev, trainee air traffic controller Krivsun and airport's chief air traffic controller Alexander Kruglov, who was in charge of the air traffic at the time of the tragic crash.

Vnukovo airport chief executive Andrei Dyakov and deputy Sergei Solntsev have resigned since the disaster.

Martynenko, who emerged unhurt from the incident, was reportedly under alcoholic influence, and he himself acknowledged that he had a cup of coffee with cognac in it before his shift.

De Margerie, 63, came to Russia to attend a Russian government meeting on foreign investment in Gorki, near Moscow, on Monday. Total has been conducting active business activities in Russia and is involved in a major Yamal LNG project.

--IANS/TASS

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